KOTA BELUD: The Sabah Padi and Rice Board (LPBS) was officially launched with the aim of achieving the State Government’s target of increasing rice Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) of 30 per cent by next year and 60 per cent by 2030.
Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, said various initiatives would be implemented through the revival of LPBS to ensure Sabah’s food security, meeting the people’s food demands and reduce dependence on rice imports.
“Currently, Sabah can only produce about 22.8 per cent of its local rice, resulting in a high dependence on imported rice to meet demand.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“LPBS will take over all development and management of padi from the State Agricultural Department starting this year.
“In addition, LPBS has also been tasked as the regulator for the development and management of padi. Therefore, I want all relevant State agencies to give full cooperation to LPBS,” he said at the launching of LPBS and Agrobank Padi Cultivation Takaful Scheme (STTP) at the Datuk Musbah Jamli Hall, Saturday.
The Sabah Padi Board was dissolved during the Berjaya administration due to rampant corruption, among others.
Hajiji’s speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister I-cum-Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
To boost SSL, Hajiji said the State Government will focus on the development and management of padi in six districts, namely Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, Papar and Kota Belud.
The total area of padi fields in these districts is 22,218.35 hectares or 55,879 acres, involving 16,018 padi farmers.
In addition to reviving LPBS, Hajiji said the State Government is also implementing several other initiatives, including emphasizing hill padi cultivation.
“Therefore, I call on all hill landowners to develop their land with high-quality hill padi cultivation.
“It is estimated that 13,266 hectares or 32,767 acres of hill land are suitable for padi cultivation, involving 15,617 farmers,” he said.
Hajiji further said if fully developed, these areas have the potential to produce 30,424 metric tonnes of hill rice annually.
Like Sarawak, famous for its Bario rice, Sabah also has its own hill rice variety, namely the Adan rice from Long Pasia, Sipitang as well as from Ranau, Kudat and Pitas, which have gained popularity in the local market, he said.
Hajiji also urged government-linked companies (GLCs) to develop their idle land for padi cultivation.
“I assure that the State Government remains committed to developing idle padi fields and boosting yields and local production,” he said.
Hajiji called upon farmers to take advantage of the Padi Cultivation Takaful Scheme that protect paddy planters in the country.
Under this scheme, padi farmers who are Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above, farming in designated areas, registered under the Federal Government Fertiliser Scheme, with an Agrobank account, will be protected for crop damage due to natural disasters, pest attacks and diseases.
